Seat unit



y 1941- c. H. O ERMANN 2,249,539

SEAT UNIT v Filed March 16. 1940 a sneaks-sheet 1 3|wentor c. H. OERMANN July 15, 1941. c. H. OERMANN SEA T UNIT Filed March I 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventor C. H. OERMANN I f I p Q l (Ittqmeg J y 5, 1941. c. IOERMANN 2,249,539

SEAT UNIT Filed March -16, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zinnenfor c. QERMANN Gtfomeg Patented July 15, 1941 UNHTE. er

4 Claims.

This invention relates to seat units of the type used in gliders, porch swings, couches, and other articles of furniture for supporting one or more cushions.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved seat unit in which the spring seat structure is provided with a sheet metal cover or skirt adapted to form a closure for the front of the spring cushion supporting assembly and to be movable upwardly and downwardly therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring seat structure having a panelfastened only to the upper portion of the spring assembly and arranged to extend across the front of the seat structure so as to conceal the springs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spring seat structure having a sheet metal panel extending across the front of the spring assembly so as to conceal the springs, the panel being secured along its upper longitudinal edge to the upper portion of the spring assembly so that when the springs move downwardly and upwardly the panel will move therea with.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved front closure for the springs of a spring cushion supporting assembly in which the spring closure element is disconnected from the ends of the device and is secured to the spring assembly so as to move downwardly and upwardly therewith. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein there are illustrated certain selected forms of the seat unit construction embodying the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a perspective View of a glider having a seat unit constructed according to one form of the present invention;

Fig.2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken in a plane between two of the seat cushions shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal'section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 is a view of 'a portion of the structure shown in Fig; 2, when the seat unit has been depressed;

Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail section showing the manner in which the upper edge portion of the sheet metal panel is secured to the spring cushion assembly;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail Vertical section of a portion of a modified form of seat unit; and v Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 7. 7

Referring to the drawings; and especially to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the invention has been shown applied to a glider ll comprising a back I2, a seat [3 and end portions M, which are all swingingly suspended from a. supporting frame in the manner to be hereinafter more fully described. 1

At each end of the glider, the sup-porting frame is formed with a .horizontally extending floor engaging member [5, towhich'is secured a vertical member l6 which projects upwardly into the end portion M.

Each vertical upright member It comprises a sheet metal plate [1, somewhat V-shaped in form and front and rear flanged members I8 and I9 secured to the front and rear edges, respectively, of the plate ll.

The seat l3 comprises a frame 2 0 including longitudinally extending right angle members 21 and 22 which are joined together by cross members 23, an end cross member being shown in 1 Fig. 2.

The purpose of the frame 20 is to provide means for supporting a spring seatstructuIe 24 composed of a plurality of coil springs 25 arranged in the usual manner, so as to support one or more cushions 26. g

The spring seat structure 24, in addition to the coil springs 25, may have a longitudinally extending right angle member 21 arranged along the upper front edge thereof so as to provide a rigid bar adapted to support the front portions of the springs 25.v r t The seat I3 is suspended from the stationary end members I6 by means of suspension bands or strap hangers 28 and 29.

The upper ends of the strap hangers 28 are pivotally connected, as indicated at30, to the upper portions of the members l8 at each end of the glider, and the upper ends of the strap hangers 29 are pivotally connected, as indicated at 3|, to the upper portions of the members l9 at each end of the glider, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower end of each strap hanger 28is connected to a bar 33 fixed to the seat frame member 2|. i I Likewise, the lower end of each strap hanger 29 is connected to a bar fixed to the seat. frame member 22. r 1 1- Arranged beneath the seat frame 13 and extending longitudinally of the glider, is a bar which is connected to the stationary end members l6 by braces 36 and 31.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the end portions [4 are each constructed in the form of a vertical tubular member, preferably formed from sheet metal, and having somewhat parallel outer and inner side walls 38 and 39, and arcuate front and rear walls 40 and 4|, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3.

The bottom of each end portion 14 is open and the inner wall 39 is cut out along the lower portion thereof, as indicated at 42, Fig. 2, so as to provide an opening of ample area for the bar 35 and braces 36 and 31.

The upper portion of each end portion 14 is closed by a top 43 which constitutes an arm rest, as will be understood.

The end portions l4 are supported from the bars 33 and 34 at each end of the glider by means of vertically disposed straps 32 and 44 which are secured to the walls of the end portions l4 by any suitable means, such as rivets 56, the lower ends of the straps 32 and 44 being mounted on the bars 33 and 34, respectively.

Mounted on the longitudinal member 21 of the spring seat assembly, is the upper longitudinal edge 45 of a skirt or panel 46.

The panel 46 is preferably made of thin sheet metal, and is arcuate in cross section, said panel being coextensive with the spring seat assembly and extending downwardly from the upper portion thereof to a point a suitable distance above the floor, so as to provide an apron for 'concealing the front portion of the glider beneath the cushions 26.

The ends of the panel 46 are spaced from the end portions 14, as shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of attaching the panel 46 to the member 21, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the upper flange of said member 21 is provided at suitable intervals with openings 41, only one of which is shown.

Secured to the upper coil of a spring 25 and disposed beneath the upper flange of the member '21 is a plate 48 having an opening 49 therein adapted to register with the opening 41.

The upper edge portion 45 of the panel 46 is formed with a slot'or opening 56 adapted to be registered with the openings 41 and 49.

A screw bolt 51 is mounted in the alined openings 41, 49 and 55 and is fixed therein by means of a nut 52.

If so desired the lower portion of the panel 46 can be curved, as indicated at 53, so that the bottom edge portion 54 extends upwardly in position to be secured to the vertical flange of the member 2!, by any suitable means, as indicated at 55, Figs. 2 and 4.

The construction of the panel 45 is such that the lower curved portion 53 thereof is located at a considerable distance below the spring cushion frame member 21', the main body portion of said panel above the portion 53 being curved or bowed outwardly and being generally located in the same vertical plane as the front of the cushions -26 so as to present a serviceable closure for the front of the glider.

Since the ends of the panel 46 are disconnected fromany portion of the glider frame structure, when the glider is occupied by one or more per sons, the weight of whom will compress the springs 25 and will at the same time force the upper frame member 21 downwardly towards the lower frame member 2|, the panel 46 will also be moved downwardly, since said panel is connected along its upper edge portion to the frame member 21. However, since the bottom edge portion 54 of the panel 46 is, in this form of the invention, connected to the frame member 2| which is held at a predetermined distance from the floor by the strap hangers 28, the panel 46 is made to flex downwardly and rearwardly, from the normal position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4. This downward and rearward flexing of the panel is in the nature of a rolling action as viewed from the front of the glider, and since the flexibility of the material used in constructing the panel 46 does not interfere with the flexibility of the springs 25, the seat unit is considerably more comfortable to occupy than other forms of seat units having rigid front panels which are not connected to the springs so as to move therewith.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the panel I46 has its upper edge portion [45 fastened directly to the spring cushion assembly 124, as indicated at 151.

The panel I46 is arcuate in vertical transverse section, but the curvature thereof is not as pronounced as is the curvature of the panel 45.

The lower edge portion I54 of the panel I46 can have applied to the rear face thereof a strip of suitable material 151 which serves as a wear surface for engaging the metal parts of the seat frame structure I20.

In this form of the invention the panel I46 moves downwardly and upwardly in a substantially vertical plane.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A seat unit comprising a coil spring cushion supporting assembly including upper and lower members and a plurality of coil spring elements secured within said members for supporting upon the top thereof one or mor cushions, the upper member being movable towards the lower member when the spring elements are compressed, and a flexible metal sheet secured along its upper longitudinal edge portion to the upper member and secured along its lower edge portion to the lower member, said metal sheet extending across the seat unit so as to conceal the spring elements and being so rolled or shaped that it will be depressed or lowered downward when the seat is occupied.

2. A seat unit comprising a coil spring cushion supporting assembly including upper and lower frames and a plurality of coil spring elements secured within said frames for supporting upon the topthereo'f one or more cushions, the upper frame extending longitudinally across the front of the seat unit and being movable towards the lower frame when the spring elements are compressed, and a flexible metal sheet secured along its upper longitudinal edge portion to the upper frame and secured along its lower edge portion to the lower frame, said panel extending across the seat unit seas to conceal the spring elements and being so rolled or shaped that it will'be depressed or bowed downward when the seat is depressed.

3. A seat unit comprising a coil spring cushion supporting assembly including upper and lower members and a plurality of coil .spring' elements secured within said'm-ernbers for supporting upon the top thereof one or more cushions, the upper member extending longitudinally across the front of the seat unit and being movable towards the lower member when the spring elements are compressed, and a flexible sheet metal panel secured ward towards the lower fram when thesprings are compressed, and a flexible sheet metal panel secured along its upper longitudinal edge portion to the upper frame and secured along its lower edge portion to the lower frame, said panel extending across the seat unit so as to conceal the springs and being arcuate in vertical transverse section so that it willbe lowered downward when lo the seat is occupied.

CARL H. OERMANN.

front of the seat unit and being movable down- I 

